ED raids Lovely Professional University in Punjab, owned by Ashok Kumar Mittal who replaced Raghav Chadha in Rajya Sabha

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday carried out raids at the campus of Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, along with multiple premises linked to the Lovely Group owned by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal.

The searches were conducted by ED teams from Jalandhar and Chandigarh as part of a probe into alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. Officials said the action targeted business entities associated with the Lovely Group, including the residence of Mittal.

Apart from the university campus, the agency also searched institutions such as Tetr College of Business and Masters’ Union College of Business in Gurugram, along with other establishments owned by the group, including sweets shops, auto businesses and a distance education centre.

Ashok Mittal, founder and chancellor of LPU, owns the group along with his brothers Ramesh Mittal and Naresh Mittal. The raids come days after he was elevated to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, replacing Raghav Chadha.

Reacting to the development, senior AAP leaders accused the BJP-led Centre of using central agencies for political purposes ahead of elections in Punjab. Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the move signalled the start of poll preparations, while Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann also criticised the raids, calling them a “typical” tactic.

The ED has not sought assistance from local police, and the searches began early Wednesday morning, officials said.